3 seriously injured in explosion at Intel factory in southern Israel

At least three people were seriously injured Wednesday in an explosion at an Intel semiconductor factory in the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat, Israeli media reported.

The Jerusalem Post, citing Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service, said three people sustained serious injuries in the blast.

Israeli police said “the explosion was suspected to have been caused by the detonation of a gas cylinder,” according to the newspaper.

Hazardous chemicals possibly leaked as a result of the explosion, Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority reported.

Teams are currently working to locate the source of the chemicals and extinguish the ensuing fire, the report added.

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Israeli news website Ynet reported that the incident involved nitrogen trifluoride, a gas used in semiconductor manufacturing, prompting specialized hazardous materials teams to conduct monitoring and risk assessments.

Firefighters have since brought the source of the blaze under control, the Fire and Rescue Authority said, according to Ynet.

Earlier, eight firefighting and rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, along with specialized hazardous materials units from neighboring stations.

The cause of the explosion had not been confirmed.

Intel’s Kiryat Gat facility manufactures semiconductor chips, according to The Jerusalem Post.

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